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Snapshots for 3/26
There's no way that Don and I can cover all of the material we have for review in full reviews, so these capsule reviews will offer some brief comments on other recent releases.
BATMAN #613
by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee & Scott Williams (DC Comics)
 By now, it's become pretty clear that the Loeb/Lee Batman isn't really my cup of tea, but I really do have a lot of respect for what these guys have done for the book. The use of just about every big name in Batman's rogues' gallery, a new mystery villain and a compelling partnership between Batman and Catwoman have made for a Batman unlike any we've seen in recent years. This issue features as our "guest villain" Harley Quinn, and though it's my opinion that the character worked best before she became a solo player, Loeb does a great job of conveying her insanity and danger, as well as tying it in to the ongoing story of Hush and Bruce's old friend Tommy, with a surprising twist on Tommy's role in the comic. However, it's Jim Lee who really steals the show this issue, with some fantastic action scenes and a particularly beautiful double-page splash of Batman closing in on Harley Quinn that speaks of all the archetypal super-hero power this run has held for so many people. 7/10
DANGER GIRL: HAWAIIAN PUNCH #1
by J. Scott Campbell, Andy Hartnell & Phil Noto (DC Comics/Cliffhanger! imprint)
 As always, Danger Girl is mostly a book for lovers of art and cheesecake, not necessarily in that order. The plot here is goofy and wafer-thin, and there's no sense whatsoever that the characters are in danger. Instead, this is a light and funny take on the espionage genre reminiscent of the Charlie's Angels film, but with a Hawaiian flavor this time and with Phil Noto on art. Though the story didn't particularly impress me, even knowing going in what to expect from Danger Girl, Noto's artwork certainly did. His work looks like animation cells with pastel colors, and he could give Frank Cho a run for his money as the guy drawing the most gorgeous women on paper. 6/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #67
by Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo & Karl Kesel (Marvel Comics)
 Dr. Doom vs. the Fantastic Four. If you have any appreciation for the Marvel Universe at all, these words bring to mind some of the classic stories ever told by the company, and given how good the stories by Waid, Wieringo and Kesel have been on Fantastic Four, there was certainly a fair bit of anticipation for "Unthinkable," which sees this team taking on Dr. Doom. This issue is the prologue, a story focusing on Dr. Doom, recapping his story with slight tweaks to bring it in line with what Waid wants to do with the character now, and the central quest that Doom is on is surprising enough, even without the twist at the end. In the hands of this creative team, Doom carries the same nobility and fearful presence around him, while also maintaining an air of mystery that has been lost over the years as the focus fell on his power instead. I'm a little nervous about the change in the character, especially the change in his classic look, but overall I'm excited by the potential of this new take, and certainly pleased with the first part of "Unthinkable." 8/10
GLOBAL FREQUENCY #6
by Warren Ellis & David Lloyd (DC Comics/Wildstorm imprint)
 As always, Global Frequency looks pretty much Warren Ellis finding a neat idea and crafting a one-off story around it, and as always, I enjoyed it quite a bit. This time out, the idea is "Le Parkour Running," which is described as "urban thrashing. Like Tarzan with buildings." I have no idea if this is a real thing or (more likely) something out of Ellis's imagination, but either way it's a neat idea, and while it's not enough to be more than a character quirk in general, it's certainly enough to craft a great chase comic around, and Ellis and Lloyd deliver that. Sita, the heroine of the piece, dashes through, below and above London, racing against time and a potential biohazard disaster with a pacing and feel similar to Run Lola Run. In between, Ellis gets some fun character and dialogue bits, including a look at his rarely-seen optimistic side with the Indian girl on the London Eye and a look at his often seen cynical side with a great four-panel interrogation by agent Douglas Coyle. 8/10
GRRL SCOUTS: WORK SUCKS #2
by Jim Mahfood (Image Comics)
 The first issue of Work Sucks I wasn't so sure about, because I couldn't really relate to the problems of giving up drug dealing to hide from repercussions from taking down a major evil corporation. But finding work and working at shitty jobs? Brother, I can relate to that, and that meant a much more enjoyable issue of Work Sucks this time out for me. Rita's appreciation for graphitti is about the hardest thing for me to get into, and even there the appeal of the artform is explained in dialogue between Rita and Hectk. But seeing Gwen's travails at the 99 cent store, especially her out-of-control temper, was hilarious and something of a wish-fulfillment for a guy who has worked more than his fair share of retail, and Daphne lucking into her dream job was a nice bit of character revelation as well as some great color for the bar. A stronger story combined with Mahfood's artwork, which I always love, has me anxious to see the rest of the series. 8/10
JLA #79
by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke & Tom Nguyen (DC Comics)
 In light of last week's invasion of Iraq, Kelly's story of diplomacy and war without easy answers seems particularly timely. Kelly raises some interesting and complex questions about the Justice League and how they deal with other cultures, just as he did with the first issue. Unfortunately, he answers those questions with easy outs like using his new character Faith to develop convenient and massive powers which finish off one obstacle while some black-and-white Silver Age morality deals with the second obstacle. There's some fun stuff in here, and I'm growing to really like Kelly's take on Major Disaster, but overall I'm left disappointed that such a potentially rich storyline ends in such a mundane and quick fashion. 5/10
LONE WOLF 2100 #7
by Mike Kennedy & Francisco Ruiz Velasco (Dark Horse Comics)
 Lone Wolf 2100 is a post-apocalyptic road trip story that seems equally inspired by Road Warrior and Blade Runner as by Lone Wolf and Cub, and I've been impressed with each issue that I've read. Admittedly, the story could be utter nonsense and I'd still be impressed by the absolutely stunning artwork from Velasco, but Kennedy is telling an interesting story of a shattered society and the groups clinging to survival in it. This issue finds Daisy in the midst of a beautifully-rendered industrial complex amidst slave children, as well as hunted by a slightly confused assassin robot whose computer code thoughts are sometimes confusing but give it a sad, doomed quality that almost make it sympathetic despite its horrific actions. The issue, like many of the ones I've read, is pretty well self-contained even though it's a part of a larger story, and it features some of the best artwork I've seen on the story, with particularly vibrant colors helping it stand out. 8/10
ONEGAI TEACHER VOLUME 1
by Shizuru Hayashiya (Comics One)
 I'm always looking for something a little out of the ordinary from manga, which is why my favorite manga has been Eagle, Iron Wok Jan! and Uzumaki, as they tackle some out-there subjects rarely seen in other comics or even in other manga. Onegai Teacher, on the other hand, fits squarely into the "magical/alien girl" genre that seems to dominate a lot of manga, and while the basic wish-fulfillment nature makes its appeal obvious for the young boys and girls that it's aimed at, it doesn't really appeal to me in general. Onegai Teacher also has a lot of the more unusual Japanese cultural stuff in it, playing around with relationships between those with very different ages and even teachers and students, and it comes off as more creepy than funny to me. However, Hayashiya's skill is undeniable, and this book reminds me more than anything of "Guardian Angel Getten" from Raijin, with plenty of slapstick and situation comedy and a tinge of underlying romantic melodrama. There's a sweet and funny love story underlying it, but the cultural barriers made it hard for me to get through, and the prevalence of the genre makes it feel less fresh than what I generally look for from manga. 6/10
ONE PLUS ONE #5
by Neal Shaffer & Daniel Krall (Oni Press)
 One Plus One concludes in much the same manner that it has had for its entire run, which is to say a bit vague and unclear, but undeniably interesting. After five issues, Shaffer and Krall never really showed their hand and revealed the actual premise of the series or what larger purpose the story served, but they did tell a fascinating small story of how human beings screw one another over and use one another. Despite the actual plot of the story being on the unclear side, the characterization has a sharp and believable focus, and the writing and art is so damned interesting that I find that I've very much enjoyed the book and would very much like to see more from these creators. 8/10
THE POWER COMPANY #14
by Kurt Busiek, Tom Grummett, Prentis Rollins, Al Vey & Wade Von Grawbadger (DC Comics)
 I was not big on The Power Company early on, and I wasn't quite won over when I gave the book a second look about six months ago. Since that time, however, I've started to realize that there's something pretty cool happening here, and if you haven't checked out the book thanks to the promo stunts like Firestorm joining or the promise of the Haunted Tank, you might want to go ahead and give it a look. This issue's story is a continuation of the fight between the Power Company and Dr. Polaris, and it's a great example of the classic super-team fight, with just a little bit of unusual characterization going on thanks to the mercenary sensibilities of the team. What really impressed me, though, was the artwork. Grummett's work here is detailed and beautiful, and it reminds me more than anything of George Perez's work, particularly on the first five pages. Power Company got off to something of a rocky start, but this creative team seems to have really clicked recently, and those looking for a good super-hero team book should definitely take a look. 8/10
STAR WARS: REPUBLIC #50
by John Ostrander, Haden Blackman, Scott Allie, Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons, Stephen Thompson, Ray Kryssing & Tomas Giorello (Dark Horse Comics)
 My interest in the Star Wars films has been killed absolutely dead by the ham-fisted handling of the first two prequels, but that doesn't mean I don't see the potential in exploring the long-mysterious Clone Wars in comic-book form. This is a double-sized issue that explores a major battle in the war, and it seems like the kind of thing that would be highly entertaining to those who don't find the continuity introduced in those two films to be a bit on the ludicrous side. For those who don't like the foundation of these stories, however, there's still plenty of solid action and spectacular artwork to be found here. Ostrander and Blackman give us a much more believable strained relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan than the movies pulled off, and Blackman also makes Jango Fett look like the badass we were supposed to believe he was. Probably the most interesting revelation in this book, though, is that Rebellion allies the Mon Calamari were part of the separatist movement during the Clone Wars, as revealed in a story about honorable opponents from Scott Allie. The artwork throughout is gorgeous, and plenty of the credit there belongs to Joe Wayne for the astounding, almost painted appearance of the color work. Let's be clear here: These are Star Wars comics, and if you're not a fan of the property on some level, they'll probably have no appeal to you, but those who enjoy this brand of space opera will find some well-crafted comic stories in these pages. 7/10
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